Load-handling spar



30, 1966 G. E. SHROYER, JR 3,269,559

LOAD-HANDLING SPAR Filed June 12, 1964 George E. Sh roger, Jr.

[2 INVENTOR.

3,269,559 I Patented August -30, 196.6

3,269,559 LOAD-HANDLING SPAR George E. Shroyer, Jr., Rte. 2, Box 99, Philomath, Greg.

Filed June 12,1964, Ser. No. 374,584 7 Claims. (Cl. 212-7) This invention relates to material-handling apparatus incluidng a spar, .such as may be used in logging and similar operations.

Much of the logging performed today, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, occurs in rough mountainous country, where high lead logging offers advantages as a method for hauling logs from where trees have been felled to a central landing, where such logs may either be loaded on trucks, or otherwise handled. In ta'high lead logging operation, \a spar (sometimes referred to as a tree) is employed, and main and haul back lines passing over fair leads mounted on the top of the spar and extending around tail blocks positioned in the area around the spar are utilized in moving the logs. The main and haul back lines are joined to each other outwardly from the spar, and butt rigging which may comprise one or more chokers mounted on the main line is employed for attaching to logs to enable them to be hauled back to the landing. On pulling in the haul back line, the' main line of necessity is pulled out, which moves the butt rigging outwardly, and on pulling in the main line, the haul back line of necessity moves outwardly, while the butt rigging with any log attached moves into the landing. Using such a system, and by periodically repositioning the various tail blocks, a relatively large area about a spar may be cleared of logs in an expeditious manner.

Because of the rough, uneven terrain ordinarily encountered in a logging operation, it is often diflicult to prepare a landing of any size. With space being limited, it follows that the less space taken up by the spar, the more space remaining for the decking of logs and loading of trucks. A general object of this invention, therefore, comprises. the provision of novel spar apparatus, which is portable in the sense that it can be set up in different locations, characterized by a number of novel features that reduce the necessary landing area needed to operate the apparatus efficiently.

In a logging operation, inaddition to the spar, it has been customary to provide a yarder or donkey which has the usual drums for carrying windings of the main .and haul back lines. 'A power-operated shovel, equippedwith tongs or other grappling devices, also has been used for the purpose of maneuvering the logs at the landing. The need for such-equipment in conjunction with the spar has further tended to produce crowding in a landing site.

More specifically, an object of this invention is to provide material-handling apparatus including a spar which features as part of the spar a novel boom extending laterally from the base of the spar, so constructedthat it may perform in a highly practical manner the job ordinalily reserved for the shovel above described. With the apparatus contemplated, logs may be hauled to the landing and loaded on trucks, without the need of a'shovel or other mechanism that in the past has taken up space in a landing.

A further object is to provide a novel spar which features a passage extending longitudinally along the inside of the spar, which accommodates the mounting therewithin of verticalreaches of the main and haul back lines mentioned. With such a construction, the reaches of these lines extending upwardly along the spar are protected, and full maneuverability is obtained in the boom mentioned, without the main and haul back lines introducing interference. Further, with vertical reaches of themain haul back lines'extending. inside the-spar, these are kept out of the way of the guy lines employed to rig the spar.

Another object is to provide a sparwhich includes novel means supporting the base thereof above the ground including legs spaced laterally of the longitudinal axis of the spar, and drums containing the windings of the main and haul back lines which may be. positioned directly under the base of the spar and inside thelegs. -Withsuch an organization, space to one side ofrthe spar whichin the past has been taken up by a yarder is leftopen, and a more compact operation is possible.

A further object is to provide, in a spar, a boom to facilitate the handling of logs, where such' boom is movable completely'about the spar and movement is unhindered by the guy lines that rig the spar.

Yet another object is to providea novel boom for a spar, which is extensible, and supported from the spar. at its outer end, and which features means whereby the boom remains in substantially the same angular, position relative to the spar with different degrees ofextension inthe boom.

A further object is to provide a novel portable spar which comprises relatively extensible sections, the spar thus being contractable to facilitate. its movement from one place to another.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the invention, and the same is described hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus constructed according to an embodiment ofthe invention, suchincluding an elongated upright spar, and adjacent: the base of this spar a boom which extends laterally in a substantially horizontal direction from the spar;

FIG. 2 is another side view of bottom portions of the apparatus, taken generally along the line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken generally along the lines 3-3 in FIG. 1, illustrating furtherdetails of the boom;

FIG. 4'illustrates, on a somewhat enlarged scale, portions of a traveling anchor connection provided for a sail guy which provides outer support for the boom; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, also on an enlarged scale, showing details of extensible spar sections in the spar.

Referring. now to the drawings, and first of all more particularly to FIG."1, the apparatus illustrated comprises an elognated upright spar, shown generally at 10, having multiple spar sections, specifically lower spar section 12 and upper spar section 14. The upper spar section is contractible into the lower spar section, it being telescopically mounted within the lower spar section. In'this way the overall length of the spar may be reduced prior to movement of the spar from one location to another.

Both the lower and-upper spar sections are :hollow, in that each has an elongated channel (shown at 16 and"18, respectively) extending longitudinally alongthe-inside thereof. These twochannels together define an elongated passage within the spar extending the length-ofthe spar.

The spar is supported-above the ground by means of support structure 20 connected to the bottom end -of lower spar section 12. This structure includes legs 22, 24 spaced laterally outwardly of the longitudinal axis of the spar, joined at their top ends by platform 26. The

legsandplatform forman arch under the spar, and the space encompassed by this arch is-utilized for the mounting of drums 28, 30 upon-which'are wound main and haul back lines 32,34.

In a logging operation, as already indicated, frequently the landing selected is uneven, and thus preferably 'the legs of support structure 20 are, providedwith extensible jacks 36 having foot pads 38 swiveled on the lower extensible ends thereof. Each of the jacks is extensible independently of the other, and with proper extension of the jacks, legs 22, 24 may be placed in an upright condition even though supported on a sloping ground surface. I

The spar is rigged in an upstanding position by means of multiple guy lines extending laterally or radially outwardly from the spar from adjacent the top of the spar, and from a location intermediate the ends of the spar. More specifically, at 40 are indicated top guy lines (six normally being provided) which extend outwardly from the top of the spar and which are anchored at their ends at points distributed about the landing as by choking them to stumps or other trees. These top guy lines have reaches indicated at 40a which extend downwardly along the outside of the spar, and have bottom ends wrapped around the drums of six of the eleven winches mounted on the spar adjacent its bottom end and shown at 42. Between their ends and adjacent the top of reaches 40a the top guy lines are trained over pulleys 44 suitably mounted on a ring 46 extending around the top of the spar.

The rigging for the spar additionally includes buckle guy lines indicated at 50 which brace the spar between its ends. These buckle guy lines (and commonly four are utilized) extend laterally outwardly from the spar as do the top guy lines, and have outer extremities choked at points distributed about the landing. These guy lines include reaches 50:: extending down the outside of the spar, and have bottom ends wrapped around the drums of four of the eleven winches shown at 42.

Joined to lower spar section 12, adjacent the top end thereof, is a downwardly flaring skirt 56. Fair leads 58, which swivel about vertical axes and are mounted on this skirt, include the usual rollers training intermediate portions of these buckle guy lines. Skirt 56 is apertured as at 60, so as to accommodate the passage therethrough of reaches 40a of the top guy lines which extend along the outside of the spar.

The various winches 42 are mounted on the base of the lower spar section through bracket structure 62. With four buckle guy lines and six top guy lines, ten of the eleven winches shown are used to draw in or let out the various guy lines. A hydraulic motor unit 64 is provided for each winch, for rotating the drum thereof under power. With the organization described, the spar is readily rigged, and the tension in the various guy lines equalized by proper actuation of selected winches.

As discussed briefly above, in the usual high lead logging operation a main line is provided which extends out from the top of a spar and which has attached thereto suitable butt rigging such as chokers which are fastened to a log. This line extends about tail blocks distributed about the landing and is joined to a haul back line which extends back to the top of the spar. With letting out of the haul back line and drawing in of the main line, logs in an area extending along the main line may be hauled to the landing, in a stretch which is referred to as a road. The main line is let out and the haul back line drawn in to return the butt rigging outwardly. On clearing a road, the tail blocks are moved and another area cleared of its logs.

In the spar illustrated, main line 32 already described in connection with drum 28, extends along the inside of the spar in the passage defined by channels 16 and :18 to the top of the spar. The line thence passes over a fair lead or guide means 66 swiveled at the top of spar section 14 for movement about a vertical axis, and thence laterally outwardly of the spar as already indicated. Haul back line 34 also extends upwardly along the spar in this passage, whence it travels over fair lead 68 (which is swiveled on the top of fair lead 66 for movement about a vertical axis), and thence laterally outwardly of the spar. The swiveled fair leads enable the positions of the tail blocks to be changed with the lines staying in lead.-

A yarder, including the usual motor and power-transmitting means connecting the motor to drums 28 and 30, is shown in FIG. 2 generally at 70. It will be noted that by including the legs which support the base of the spar above the ground, drums 28, 30 may be positioned directly under the base of the spar in a position whereby line is fed directly up into the interior of the spar. Further, with the organization described, that portion of the landing taken up by the yarder in addition to that used by the spar is reduced, since in effect the spar is superimposed over a portion of the yarder.

In decking logs or loading them on trucks, a boom 74 is employed, which extends horizontally and laterally from the base of the spar. This boom eliminates the necessity for a shovel or other equipment in conjuction with the spar for the purpose of handling logs at the landing, and thus the boom is important in permitting a further reduction in the size of the landing needed.

Boom 74 is extensible, and includes inner and outer sections 76, 78. The inner end of inner boom section 76 is pivotally mounted at 80 on a collar 82 which extends about the lower spar section and is rotatably mounted thereon. Collar 82 is mounted on the lower spar section between bearings 84, 86 which are fastened to the spar section, and fastened to bearing 86 is a gear 92. The mounting for the inner end of the boom thus accommodates travel of the inner end about the longitudinal axis of the spar. It further includes means where-by such travel is produced under power, and such is exemplified by a motor such as hydraulic motor 88 which is mounted through its housing on collar 82 and drives a gear 90 having teeth meshing with the teeth of gear 92..

Outer boom section 78 may include channel-shaped longitudinals 102, 104 which encompass the outer sides of boom section 76. These are suitably interbraced, and anti-friction means such as rollers (not shown) may be provided between the two boom sections to facilitate relative movement thereof. Power-operated means, including a motor 106 mounted on the outer boom section driving a transverse shaft 108 is provided for producing relative movement of the boom sections under power. Gears 110 are joined to shaft 108 and these mesh with the teeth of racks 112 mounted on the inner boom section. With such an organization, and with rotation of the shaft and gears in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1, extension is produced, whereas on rotation of the gears in the opposite direction, contraction results.

A feature of this invention is the provision of novel means supporting the outer end of the boom, more specifically sail guys, which accommodates swiveling of the boom about the spar and which maintans the boom horizontal even though extension or contraction should occur therein. Thus, it will be noted in FIG. 3 that a pair of drums 114, 116 or take up means are secured to shaft 108, and upon these are wrapped the windings of sail guy lines 118, 120. These extend outwardly from the drums and around pulleys 122 mounted on the outer end of the outer boom section, and the upper ends of these guy lines are attached to a floating anchor connection shown generally at 124.

The floating anchor connection comprises a yoke 126 (see FIGS. 1 and 4) having rollers 128 joumaled on the legs thereof. Around the base of skirt 56 is an annular track or guide 130. Rollers 128 ride in this track, and the track defines a circular path for the yoke extending about the spar.

With the construction, the boom may swing about the axis of the spar, over a 360 angle. The boom itself may be extended or contracted. With contraction of the boom, and by reason of the fact that on contraction of the boom the sail guys are taken up at the same time, the boom remains substantially horizontal.

A grappling device, such as tong niechanism 130, may

i be mounted on the end of the boom for' actually picking of the upper section, a line 140 (see FIG. 5) is attached to the base of the upper spar section, and this line extends upwardly through'the inside of lower section 12 and a passage 142 to a pulley 144. The line is trained about this pulley, and extends down the outside of the spar to one of the eleven winches 42 provided at the base of the spar. With line 140' payed out from the winch, section 14 lowers into section 12, and on the line being wound up on the winch, extension of the spar results.

Completing the description of the apparatus, and re ferring to FIG. 1, on the underside of the boom is an operators cab 146. This may be mounted on a boom through tracks 148 defining a path of travel for the cab extending transversely of the "boom. Suitable mechanism (not shown) may be provided to shift the cab from one side -to the other of the boom, to-provide the best visibility.

Also on the other side of the boom are elongated bars 150 extending'along the length of the boom. These are mounted on the boom through transverse members 152. In using the boom 'it is sometimes desirable for an operator to bring the end of a log up against the underside of the boom and heel it, whereby the log is kept from swinging. Bars 150 provide a grating on the underside of the boom which inhibits lateral shifting of a log end when such is heeled in this manner.

It should be obvious from the above that apparatus is contemplated having a number of novel and desirable features. A principal advantage is the fact that the'apparatus permits the use of a landing which is considerably smaller than those normally required. The need for a shovel or other handling apparatus is eliminated. The yarder may be placed in part under the spar, with the drums thereon directly in position to feed line up into the spar. The bottom section of the boom may be rigged, and the top section then elevated. The rigging for the boom is carried externally, whereas the main and haul back lines, where they extend along the spar, are inside the spar and thus out of the way and protected. The boom may be swung about the spar without interference with the guy lines.

While an embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, obviously changes and variations are possible without departing therefrom. It is desired to cover all such changes and modifications as would be apparent to one skilled in the art, and that come within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. Material-handling apparatus comprising an elongated upstanding nonrevolving spar having a passage extending along the inside thereof and longitudinally of the spar,

a hauling line and multiple guy lines, each of said guy lines and said hauling lines including a reach extending vertically along the spar, and means for paying out and drawing in the lines mounted at a location fixed with respect to the spar,

a laterally outwardly extending boom having an inner end adjacent the bottom end of the spar and means mounting said inner end on the spar accommodating travel of such end about the spar,

support means for the boom connected to the boom and extending from adjacent the outer end thereof 6 upwardly tothe spar to a point intermediate the ends of the spar,

traveling anchoring means anchoring the upper end of said support'means on the spar,and

means supporting said anchoring means on 'the spar with said anchoring means being movable in-a path extending about the sparandthe ve'rtic alrea ches of the'hauling and guylines which extend along the spar.

2. Material-handling apparatus comprising an elongated upstanding spar,

a hauling line'and muliple guy lines,"each including a reach extending vertically'along the spar, and means for paying out and drawingin the 'lines mounted at a locationfixed with respect to the spar,

a substantially horizontal boom withan inner end adjacent the spar extending laterally of 1 the spar adjacent' the bottom end thereof,

means mounting said inner end of the'boom'on the spar including means accommodatingmovement"of said inner end about the spar, and'power-operated means 'for producing such movement,

an elongated support member connected to the boom adjacent the end'thereof opposite its said inner end and extending upwardly to the spar to a point" intermediate the ends of the spar,

traveling anchoring'means anoho'ring the'upper end of said support means on the spar, arid means supporting said anchoring'means-on the spar 'with said anchoring means being movable in a V path extending about the spar and thevertical reaches of the hauling'line andguy'lines which extend along the spar.

3. In material-handling apparatus,

an elongated upstanding spar having a' passage extending *along the inside thereof and longitudinally of the spar,

fair lead means mounted'on the spar'adja'cent the top thereof,'and' a'hauling line" extending upwardly along the spar in said passage and trained oversaid fair lead means,

multiple guy lines for rigging the spar in an upstanding position extending laterally of the spar from adjacent the top thereof and including vertical reaches extending downwardly along the outside of the spar,

a substantially horizontal boom with an inner end adjacent the spar extending laterally of the spar adjacent the bottom end thereof,

means mounting said inner end of the boom on the spar accommodating travel of said inner end about the spar and including power-operated means for producing such travel,

a guide mounted on said spar between the ends thereof extending around the outside of the vertical reaches of said guy lines,

support means for the boom connected to the boom and extending upwardly from adjacent the outer end thereof to said guide, and

:a traveling lanc'hor connection mounting the upper end of said support means on said guide which is movable on said guide about the spar.

4. Spar apparatus for logging and similar operations comprising an elongated upstanding spar having a passage extending along the length thereof inside the spar,

first and second fair lead means mounted on the spar adjacent the top end thereof,

means and haul back lines extending up through the passage inside of the spar and trained over said fair lead means,

multiple top guy lines projecting laterally outwardly from the top of the spar including vertical reaches extending downwardly along the spar along the outside thereof,

multiple buckle guy lines projecting laterally of the spar at a point intermediate the ends thereof including vertical reaches extending downwardly along the outside of the spar,

a guide, and means mounting said guide on the spar with the guide encircling the various reaches of said guy lines,

a substantially horizontally extending boom having an inner end adjacent the spar projecting laterally of the spar adjacent its bottom end,

means mounting said inner end of said boom on said spar including means accommodating travel of said inner end about the spar and power-operated means for producing such movement,

support means connected to the boom and extending upwardly from adjacent the outer, end of the boom to said guide, and

a traveling anchor connection mounting the upper end of said support means on said guide movable on the guide in a path extending about the vertical reaches of said guy lines.

5. The spa-r apparatus of claim 4, wherein said support means also comprises a sail guy extending downwardly from said guide, said boom has guide means mounted thereon adjacent the outer end thereof which trains an intermediate portion of said sail guy, said sail guy is wound on take up means, said boom comprises an inner section and an outer section which is extensible from the inner section, and means is provided operatively interconnected with said take up means for producing extension and contraction of the boom simultaneously with drawing in and letting out of said sail guy in such a manner that the angular position of the boom during take up of the sail guy remains substantially unchanged.

6. In spar apparatus,

an elongated upstanding spar,

a substantially horizontal boom extending laterally of the spar adjacent the base of the spar,

said boom including an inner section and an outer section with the outer section being extensible outwardly from the inner section,

a sail guy, having an end portion mounted on a portion of the spar dis-posed above said boom extending downwardly to the boom,

guide means mounted on said outer section of the boom training an intermediate portion of said sail guy, and

means mounted on said outer section of the boom operable when actuated to produce extension and contraction of the boom by movement of its outer section relative to its inner section, said means further including take-up means for the sail guy operated conjointly with relative movement of the boom sections to produce taking in or letting out of the sail guy whereby a substantially horizontal position is maintained in the boom. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, which further comprises a traveling anchor connection for said end portion of the sail guy which is movable in a path extending about the spar, and wherein means is provided mounting the inner end of said inner section of the boom on the spar accommodating movement of said inner end about the spar and including power-operated means for producing such movement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 453,087 5/1891 Milliken 212-58 1,213,242 1/1917 Overly et a1. 254143 1,264,063 4/1918 Guichard 18912 2,008,785 7/1935 De Vou.

2,275,195 3/1942 Martin 254143 2,607,500 8/1952 Frink 2l2144 2,734,641 2/ 1956 Burton 2l2--7 2,985,429 5/1961 Le Tourneau 254l39.1 3,195,419 7/1965 Erickson 212-144 X ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, EVON C. BLUNK,

Examiners. I

A. L. LEVINE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. MATERIAL-HANDLING APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED UPSTANDING NONREVOLVING SPAR HAVING A PASSAGE EXTENDING ALONG THE INSIDE THEREOF AND LONGITUDINALLY OF THE SPAR, A HAULING LINE AND MULTIPLE GUY LINES, EACH OF SAID GUY LINES AND SAID HAULING LINES INCLUDING A REACH EXTENDING VERTICALLY ALONG THE SPAR, AND MEANS FOR PAYING OUT AND DRAWING IN THE LINES MOUNTED AT A LOCATION FIXED WITH RESPECT TO THE SPAR, A LATERALLY OUTWARDLY EXTENDING BOOM HAVING AN INNER END ADJACENT THE BOTTOM END OF THE SPAR AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID INNER END ON THE SPAR ACCOMMODATING TRAVEL OF SUCH END ABOUT THE SPAR, SUPPORT MEANS FOR THE BOOM CONNECTED TO THE BOOM AND EXTENDING FROM ADJACENT THE OUTER END THEREOF UPWARDLY TO THE SPAR TO A POINT INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE SPAR, TRAVELING ANCHORING MEANS ANCHORING THE UPPER END OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS ON THE SPAR, AND MEANS SUPPORTING SAID ANCHORING MEANS ON THE SPAR WITH SAID ANCHORING MEANS BEING MOVABLE IN A PATH EXTENDING ABOUT THE SPAR AND THE VERTICAL REACHES OF THE HAULING AND GUY LINES WHICH EXTEND ALONG THE SPAR. 